I received an email on January 28, 2006 from a compulsive gambler who stated “I have a problem gambling and now I have lost everything, please help me”. This email really concerned me since I had received over thirty similar emails over the passed few months. I am also amazed that only a year ago things seem to be less dramatic then they are right now when it comes to gambling addiction. The accelerated growth in this addiction is paralleled to the growth in the gaming industry. A significant amount of our population has now been exposed to this industry

Now that people are addicted to gambling, what should we do? This is a very difficult question to answer but I believe education and awareness to help those inflicted with this hideous addiction.

I have received several emails from people who believe their solutions would help decrease the accelerated growth of those addicted to gambling. The following are examples of those emails:

Outlaw all forms of gambling.

Regulate the gaming industry

Remove all ATM machines from gambling establishments especially casinos that have slot machines.

No Check cashing

No alcohol allowed in casinos

Gambling establishments should not be allowed to use the postal service to send incentives for people to come to their place to gamble.

No large billboard advertising.

No Commercials or sponsoring of the local news.

The above email comments are from those to have suffered due to gambling. It’s not only the gambler but their family and friends have also been negatively affected.

Remember these words “I have a problem gambling and I have lost everything”, because this could be you. If you even have the slightest notion you have a problem gambling, face it straight on and you have a chance to recover before you lose everything you have worked so hard for.

If you are one of the one’s who have lost everything, you can rebuild your life and move forward. There are so many people who have walked in your shoes. I know this is very painful, but each day will get brighter and brighter.

The good news is there is hope for people to recover from this addiction.

By howard keith
Mr. Howard Keith has extensive background on gambling addiction. For more information on gambling addiction you can check outr his website http://www.istoppedgambling.com/